THE mother of a man brutally murdered and dumped in a reservoir near Huddersfield 20 years ago has begged for help to catch his killers.

Vanessa Winstanley, 70, said she would not rest until the people who killed son Laurence were brought to justice.

The 23-year-old, of Sholver, Oldham, was last seen in a pub in the town on October 2 1988.

But his body was only discovered at Baitings Dam Reservoir, near Ripponden, on September 26 the following year – exactly 20 years ago tomorrow.

It had been wrapped in a curtain, weighted down by a pickaxe head. He had died as a result of a gunshot to the head.

Mrs Winstanley fought back tears yesterday as she told how she would have ended her life had it not been for her other two children.

She branded Laurence’s killers “the rubbish of the earth” and said: “They have totally ruined mine and my children’s lives. We don’t respond to anything in a normal way any more.

“If it weren’t for my other children I would be dead now.

“But I think they would think I was letting them down if I killed myself.”

But she added: “They will never get away with it. With my last breath I will continue plodding on.”

On the day he went missing, Laurence was drinking at The Windsor pub in Sholver, where he received a telephone call which seemed to concern him.

He then took more than an hour to travel to his mother’s house – a journey that would normally take minutes.

He was seen again at the pub that evening.

But it was the last time he was seen alive.

His car, a red Ford Cortina estate, was later scrapped in Oldham.

At the time of his death, detectives suspected Laurence’s killing may have been gang-related.

But Mrs Winstanley said her son did not have any enemies that she knew of.

She said: “He was a bit of a mischievous person, but really helpful to everybody.

“He would give you his last penny. He was generous, fun to be with.

“These horrible people are walking about and he has not had a chance to get married, have children. I wonder if they are married and have children.”

Mrs Winstanley has already offered a £25,000 reward to catch the killers.

Crimestoppers has now put up a £10,000 reward and West Yorkshire Police have renewed their inquiries.

Mrs Winstanley said: “I don’t play the Lottery but I have always thought, if I won £1m, I would say, ‘Here’s the cheque, you can have it but tell us who did it.’”

And in a direct appeal to people who may know the killers, she said: “Please come forward. I know it must be frightening because it’s just awful to think what they did to him. But please come forward and give me some peace.”

Anyone with information can contact the Review Team on 01924 292456 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or use the secure online form which can be found on the website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org.